FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 3, 2016 /3BL Media/ – The Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward) and ArtServe announce the finalists for the “Art to End AIDS” public mural project, a component of the broader HIV Ends With Me and Broward Greater Than AIDS campaigns.

DOH-Broward is working with ArtServe to create a public mural in Broward County that will depict images and messages that promote the HIV Ends With Me themes of being tested and knowing your HIV/AIDS status. The mural will be revealed in conjunction with the annual United States Conference on AIDS to be held in Fort Lauderdale in fall 2016.

A panel of distinguished jurors including members from the arts community, public art officials, and healthcare professionals reviewed dozens of art submissions by local artists, and evaluated each submission to select as finalists those works that held true to the HIV ENDS WITH ME theme and met with high standards of artistic excellence. The artists selected as finalists are: Annie Chaskalson, Georgeta Fondos, Teri Forero, Charlotte Maloney, Shernett Muhammad, Lori Pratico, Kevin Santana, and Ruben Ubiera.

“The interest by the arts community in the Art to End AIDS mural project as well as the quality of the art submissions has been so impressive,” said Evelyn Ullah, Director, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Program, DOH-Broward. “The artists who were selected as finalists represent the very best, and I am enthusiastic about the potential for this new public mural to promote the important message of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness for the citizens of Broward County.”

“ArtServe is proud to engage our local arts community in this important public art commission, especially for a county that is among the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS,” said Jaye Abbate, President and CEO of ArtServe. “The sheer number of submissions we received represents our artists’ commitment to using their creative talents to get the word out about knowing your status and doing your part to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.”

About the Florida Department of Health in Broward CountyThe Florida Department of Health in Broward County works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Broward County through integrated state, county and community efforts.

About ArtServeNow celebrating its 25th Anniversary, ArtServe was incorporated in 1988 as one of six original arts incubators in the United States, with a mission of developing programs that support artists and cultural organizations as a means to creating vibrant, thriving communities. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ArtServe offers its members a wide range of progressive services, events, affordable facilities and collaborative programs that promote the visibility of art and culture throughout South Florida and helps artists turn their art into business. ArtServe recently received the “Salute to Business” award from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the Doyle Foundation Award for Non-Profit Excellence. In 2014, ArtServe was voted Broward County’s best non-profit arts organization at the Nonprofit Academy Awards, and Best Art Gallery Readers’ Choice Award from New Times Broward Palm Beach. Programs are supported in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council, and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.